Mono Sheriff: Man shoots girlfriend in suicide try

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A Benton, Calif., man, who allegedly tried to commit suicide in his garage, shot his girlfriend in the arm after he flinched while aiming a gun at himself last week at the Mammoth Lakes Fish Hatchery.

Mono County Sheriff’s deputies, along with officers of the California Highway Patrol, Mammoth Lakes Police, Mono paramedics and the Long Valley Fire Department responded Aug. 20 to a 6:45 p.m. 911 call.

The girlfriend, who was in another room when she was shot, and her daughter ran from the scene to seek safety with a neighbor, according to Mono Sheriff’s spokeswoman Jennifer Hansen. The man came out of his garage, threatening to kill his neighbor when the first CHP officer arrived on scene. Then he threatened to shoot the officer, who was able to talk the man down to the point where he could Taser him.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived and noticed the man was shot in the foot. He was taken to Mammoth Hospital for treatment, while the girlfriend was treated for a nonlife threatening injury to her arm by medics at the scene.

Mono County detectives are investigating the incident. Charges are pending with the Mono County District Attorney’s Office.

■ Three people were arrested during a California Highway Patrol sobriety checkpoint on Highway 395 at Bridgeport on Saturday.

All three people were in the same vehicle where CHP officers said they smelled burned marijuana. The driver and two passengers were arrested for felony possession of multiple controlled substances, according to CHP spokeswoman Anne Morin.

A third passenger in the vehicle was released after it was determined that person was the only one in the car without controlled substances on them.

Another driver was cited for driving with out a valid drivers license. Officers could have impounded the vehicle, but instead released it to another person with a valid license. Another driver was cited for a mechanical violation.

The checkpoint was operated from 6:05-9:45 p.m., and was staffed by five officers and a sergeant. In all 341 vehicles were screened.

“All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers, said Bridgeport Office Area Commander Lt. R.D. Cohan. “Publicizing the checkpoint ahead of time appears to have paid off as no drivers were arrested for driving while under the influence.”

This is the second checkpoint conducted by the CHP this month. One on Aug. 10 along Highway 158 in June Lake screened 204 vehicles.

One driver was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, and a passenger was arrested for having an open container of alcohol. Two motorists were cited for driving without a license in that operation, Morin said.